Written By Joanie Stahl
One of the big mysteries is who is the Antichrist and what is his nationality? There are many positions on this topic. I will be more than happy to share my views.
So what is the nationality of the Antichrist? The Bible provides good evidence with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this terrible personage. There has been no doubt much debate that surrounds this. So let me begin.
Starting with Daniel 9:26, ” A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the temple.”
The city and the Temple referenced here in this passage were destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus and the Roman Legions, but as we all know, Titus was not the ruler aforementioned.
Daniel 9:27 describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel. And put an end to the daily sacrifices and offerings, and furthermore, sets up the sacrilegious image, “the abomination of desolation that causes desolation.”
These are the obvious events that will be accomplished in the short lived term of the Antichrist. The beginning of the last 3 1/2 years. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will come from among the people who destroyed the Temple. Therefore, there is certainty that he will come from among the Roman Empire. But the fact that it mentions that that he comes from among the Roman people does not automatically mean that the Antichrist will be an Italian heritage or Roman ethnicity. The implication is that he must come from among the people who were part of the Roman Empire at that time. And from an ethnic stand point, this leaves the door open to countless positions taken by so many people through the ages.
Don’t forget the Roman Empire covered most of the known world in it’s day, and Roman citizenship was far extended to many non-Italian people. So now the question is, is what is the interpretation of this passage?
Daniel 9:26 refers to the power base, or epi-center from which the Antichrist will operate. Daniel clearly states that the final world empire before the Millennial establishment will be a resurrected form of the Roman Empire, “which will devour the whole earth.” And this is one of the many ways that will reveal him. I purport that the Antichrist will be a Syrian Danite Jew. Why?
Daniel chapter 8 provides further clues in reference to the Antichrist’s life and the times he lives in. For example, the Angel Gabriel explains Daniels vision of a ram and a goat as events directly relating to the Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great. Gabriel states that following the his death the empire will be divided up into four parts. And out of one of those parts, the Antichrist will arise. See Daniel 8:21-24.
Next, Daniel provides an a rather in depth examination of Alexander the Great’s empire that relates to the “king of the North and the King of the South.” The latter part of the chapter describes the Antichrist and identifies him with other historical personages who also held the title, “King of the North. And along with the passage cited above, clearly links the Antichrist to the northern kingdom of the divided Grecian Empire. This kingdom was ruled by on of Alexander’s generals by the name of Seleucus who ruled the areas of Syria, which included Mesopotamia as well as Persia. So it is reasonable to assume that the Antichrist will in some way be linked to this geographical area of the Middle East.
In addition to Daniel Chapter 8, let’s take a look at Isaiah 10:12-14. He offers some interesting insight concerning “a King of Assyria.” For the sake of time, you are free to look it up.
So assuming you have, I will continue. Though Isaiah does not directly identify him, the King of Assyria does bear a striking resemblance to the Antichrist. In fact both books of Daniel and Revelation describe the Antichrist as proud and arrogant. He blasphemes God to His face as well as those in heaven. His big boast is echoed by those that follow him. See Revelation 13:4.
So coupling Daniel 8 with Isaiah 10 supports the idea that the Antichrist will somehow be connected to political power in that region of the world.
The next question is the big one. Will the Antichrist be Jewish?
This is the big question because although there is no definitive answer, there are two Bible verses that provide supportive reason to believe he indeed will be. The first one appears in the Book of Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed (the Antichrist) and her Seed (Jesus Christ); He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heal.” This is clear prophetic evidence of the two personages and the prophecies the coming of Israel’s Messiah and Satan’s Antichrist.
Do not forget Jacob when blessing his sons before his death. He makes this prophecy about Dan in Genesis 49:16-17. “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horses heels so that it’s rider shall fall backward.” Do not forget also Dan is not mentioned in the line up of Revelation 7:6. Dan is not mentioned but replaced by Manasseh until the Millennial Reign set up. See Ezekiel 48:1. This is where he is mentioned as the first to receive reinstatement and given first mention as to receiving first Royal Land Grant allotment, when before in Numbers chapter 2:31, he is mentioned last and furthest set apart from the tabernacle.
Also, do not forget that in Judges chapter 18, the tribe of Dan became idolaters and for this reason they are set aside until the Millennial Establishment and reinstated. However, pay attention to the fact that a serpent arises out of them as a judge of the people Israel. This has not happened yet.
And in addition to this reference to the tribe of Dan, Daniel points out that the Antichrist will worship himself above all else.
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all.” Daniel 11:37.
This passage is often referred to by those who hold to the belief that the Antichrist will be of Jewish heritage. The fact that he will have no regard “for the God of his fathers,” is viewed as strong reference to the monotheistic God of the Jews. And adding further evidence that the Antichrist will be Jewish is taken from Revelation 13:11, “Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke with the voice of a dragon.”
This verse makes clear that the Antichrist will “come up out of the earth,” which happens to be a biblical phrase often associated with the Promised Land and the Jewish people. In fact, throughout the whole canon of scripture the earth is used as a symbol for Israel, while the sea is used as a symbol for the Gentiles,
“And now in my vision I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on it’s horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.”
Revelation 13:1.
This is a verse that is referring to the Antichrist’s Kingdom, which as mentioned before, will be a Roman Empire in its second and final stage. Daniel states that this world empire will reemerge in the last days, hence, becoming “healed of it’s mortal wound.” But the individual who rules it “will come up out of the earth,”
The last and final question. Will the Jews accept the Antichrist as their long awaited Messiah?
With all the inquiries and speculation surrounding whether or not the Antichrist is Jewish begs the question. Is he Jewish or not. And will the Jews accept him? There is a strongly held belief in a prophecy spoken by Jesus that the Jewish people will do so:
“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43
The Antichrist will have to be Jewish to be accepted by Israel as their Messiah with irrefutable proof. They will demand it.
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